Zecher Lemikdash

Seeking Zion Taking the Lulav All Seven Days of Succos & Circling the Bimah

Selections from classical Torah sources
which express the special relationship between
the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael

ZECHER LEMIKDASH - SEEKING ZION

Zecher Lemikdash - this term, literally translated
as a "remembrance of the Sanctuary," expresses the effort
of Jews not privileged with actually experiencing the Beis Hamikdash
to at least connect with it in some way.

The gemara mentions two examples of zecher lemikdash
which take place on Succos. One is in regard to the mitzvah of
taking the four species. In the time of the Beis Hamikdash, this
mitzvah was fulfilled all seven days of Succos only in the Beis
Hamikdash itself, while everywhere else it was limited to the
first day only. After the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash a
decree was instituted by the Sanhedrin under the leadership of
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai to take the four species all seven days
everywhere, in order to remember what was done in the Beis Hamikdash
- zecher lemikdash.

The other example relates to the mitzvah of taking
the aravah which was done every day of Succos by the kohanim in
the Beis Hamikdash. We do our mitzvah of taking the aravah on
Hoshanah Rabbah, the seventh day of Succos, once again as a zecher
lemikdash.

In addition to these two Talmudic examples, we have
the custom of circling the bimah in the synagogue each day of
Succos (except Shabbos) with our four species as a remembrance
of the circling done in the Beis Hamikdash each day around the
altar. We also recall the singing and dancing which accompanied
the drawing of the water for the water libation offered on the
altar by conducting our own "simchas beis hashoeva"
on Succos evenings as zecher lemikdash.

What is the source for doing anything as zecher lemikdash?
Rabbi Yochanan (Succos 41a) cites a passage (Yirmiyahu 30:17):
"For I shall restore your health and heal your wounds, says
Hashem; for they have called you an outcast, saying: This is Zion
whom no one seeks." The implication of the Prophet's words,
concludes Rabbi Yochanan, is that there is a need to "seek
Zion" by doing things which were done in the Beis Hamikdash.

It may be suggested that all of our zecher lemikdash
actions are not only designated for the purpose of remembering
but also for traversing time and space to somehow connect with
the sanctity we seek in our love of Zion.

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